What Is Impact Investing And How Can You Contribute To A Positive Change with Kyle

Posted on by joneytalks

ESG investing, SRI investing, Impact investing is that even profitable?

In today’s episode, we will speak to my friend Kyle from The Impact Investor.

Impact investing along with ESG investing and Social Responsibility Investing are terms you may have heard of lately, but what do these different terms mean and how can you contribute to a positive impact through investing?

Sustainable minimalism #savetheplanet
Photo by Cherie Birkner on Unsplash

Kyle has been a sustainable investor working for the last ten years with investment banking and private equity and he has a strong passion for personal finance. Together we will discuss as well how we can have a positive impact through investing,(and if this way of investing is profitable at all), how we can manage our daily purchase decisions and Kyle will give us tips to reduce your carbon footprint when traveling (his other passion).

Listen here:

…or listen on Apple Podcasts

This episode is for you if you want to make a positive impact through investing and/or if you want to understand the basics of impact investing.

Key Takeaways:

  • ESG, SRI, and impact investing?
    • ESG investing: Focuses on 3 core measurable prongs. Environmental impact (carbon footprint), social impact (promoting equality among individuals), and Governance (e.g. a governance-based system where individuals from all backgrounds have an opportunity).
    • SRI investing: This is more of a blank canvas, it is a values-based investing strategy, which will be different for each of us. Core values can be environment, gender equality, equal pay,… and they can be more than one.
    • Impact investing: A “hybrid of the 2 other ones”: Investing for positive impact. It is a different way of thinking: My dollars will result in a measurable positive change.
  • Investing in ESG companies?
    • Look for rating agencies: MSCI, Sustainalytics, Morningstar (example: Tesla) that will provide you with the necessary info.
    • The Impact Investor website of course!
    • Look at ESG measures for companies within the same industry.
    • ESG scoring per company will become more important in the future.
    • There are as well ETFs suited for ESG, like S&P500 index funds without carbon-based companies.
  • Cryptocurrencies and ESG?
    • Crypto consumes a lot of energy.
    •  Some cryptos are less energy-intensive: Cardano, Ethereum 2.0 will consume less energy. (Proof-of-Stake vs Proof-of-work)
  • Is it all profitable?
    • Sustainable investing is about doing the right thing for the long-term (not quick gain, no shortcuts), for the foreseeable future. This type of investing will harvest sustainable profits for the future and these are the company that will win in the long run.
    •  It is about making decisions that will allow future generations to flourish.
  • Day-to-day money management?
    • Everything that makes up what we use or consume is finite, it requires energy to produce (unless renewable). Make decisions that reduce the impact on the earth, people, or communities. Ask yourself: “How it is made?” “Where is it made?”, etc. You will end up buying less stuff and hence save money and reduce your impact on the planet.
    • Food purchases: Buy local, Support local farmers, this will reduce the length of travel and hence the carbon footprint impact. And buy in small quantities to avoid waste.
    • Like to Travel? That has an impact, fly to a central place and favor electric or hybrid modes of transportation.
    • Try to reduce your carbon footprint by not using a vehicle, or drive electric/hybrid if possible (I know it is not possible for everyone).

By taking all these small steps: Impact investing, buying more responsibly, and reducing our carbon footprint, we will all contribute to a better world for the future!

Who is Kyle?

Kyle is the founder of The Impact Investor, a website focused on helping others invest sustainably without sacrificing financial returns. We all want products sourced by sustainable and ethical means, why should investing be any different? Follow his investing journey on his Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter accounts. If he isn’t talking about sustainability, he’s doing his best to explore the world in a low-carbon manner while documenting his experiences on his site ViaTravelers.com.
Kyle Kroeger #viatravelers
Kyle on one of his travel adventures!

RESOURCES 

If you liked this episode you can buy me a drink, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or share the episode with a friend 🙏 . Make sure you follow us on social media as well for more great content, check our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and join our e-mail list. I would love to connect with you!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means I may make a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase. This will help to support Joney Talks!

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